The millions of species of nonhuman animals do not exist to provide you with food that you do not need and is not natural. You do not have the anatomy of a carnivore, even Plutarch recognised this obvious fact some 2,000 years ago when he said:

…it is absurd for them to say that the practise of flesh-eating is based on nature. For that man is not naturally carnivorous is, in the first place, obvious from the structure of his body. A mans frame is in no way similar to those creatures who were made for flesh-eating; he has no hooked beak or sharp nails or jagged teeth, no strong stomach or warmth of vital fluids able to digest and assimilate a heavy diet of flesh. It is from the very fact, the evenness of our teeth, the smallness of our mouths, the softness of our tongues, our possession of vital fluids too inert to digest meat that nature disavows our eating of flesh. If you declare that you are naturally designed for such a diet, than first kill for yourself what you want to eat. Do, it however, only through your own resources, unaided by cleaver or cudgel of any kind or axe. Rather, just as wolves and bears and lions themselves slay what they eat, so you are to fell an ox with your fangs or a boar with your jaws, or tear a lamb or hare in bits. Fall upon it and eat it still living, as animals do. But if you wait for what you eat to be dead, if you have qualms about enjoying the flesh while life is still present, why do you continue, contrary to nature, to eat what possesses life? Even when it is lifeless and dead, however, no one eats the flesh just as it is; men boil it and roast it, altering it by fire and drugs, recasting and diverting and smothering with countless condiments the taste of gore so that the palate may be deceived and accept what is foreign to it.

If you eat meat consider the points that Plutarch made centuries ago, ask yourself what other animal cooks its food to make it edible, the fact that you need to cook meat is an indication that this food is not natural for humans.

Animals have their own lives, their own natures and purposes. A rabbit, a mink or a fox, to name just a few of the unfortunate creatures to be killed to provide some humans with a fur coat, are not on this earth for that purpose. The fur of these animals belongs to the creature who was born with it. Way back in time the killing of animals for meat or fur was the only option available, but now no human on earth needs meat or fur or the wool of sheep. Yet the fur trade thrives throughout the world with millions of animals killed for their fur to satisfy human greed and fickle fashion.

“In order to ensure that every person on the planet has enough food to eat, and ultimately protect our own survival, humans must look deep within themselves and choose the path that is the most compassionate, healthy, and sustainable. That path is veganism.”http://gentleworld.org/could-veganism-end-world-hunger/

Meat is also a detriment to our environment, for example 51 percent or more of global greenhouse-gas emissions are caused by animal agriculture, eating meat causes pollution and uses up huge amounts of water to name just a few of the problems to our environment we ignore in order for wealthy people in western countries to eat meat.

“Over 56 billion farmed animals are killed every year by humans. These shocking figures do not even include fish and other sea creatures whose deaths are so great they are only measured in tonnes.”http://www.animalequality.net/food

Over one billion animals are killed in the UK alone each year and there are 278 slaughter houses:

Indeed it breaks your heart that those affectionate calves will soon be killed in order for you who eat meat, to consume a food that you do not need and is now merely a luxury, which not only causes the harm mentioned above but is for you the meat-eater a serious detriment to your health and well being.

Whether it’s circuses, zoos, horse or dog racing oreven here in the UK the bizarre but ever more popular sheep racing, hunting, shooting, fishing, the use of animals for entertainment is wrong. As Rodger Moore quoted above says there are now “boundless opportunities for amusement“, circuses and other animal entertainment including the obviously sickening pastime of blood sports are now anachronisms of a bygone age and are barbaric abuses of sentient beings, animals who have as much right to live their lives as they so please, as nature intended not as an adjunct to human activity.

Below is a petition which shows that even sheep cannot escape being used and abused in so called entertainment;

Nothing shames the human species as its use of helpless animals for experimentation. There is no excuse for this cruelty, no justification, whether it is testing a defenceless rabbit, guinea pig, or rat for cosmetic or medical purposes for which in addition to the aforementioned animals primates may be used, also dogs and cats in medical testing. Life is precious to any animal as your life is to you, what right have any human to assert that their life is more important than that of another animal.

Right now, millions of mice, rats, rabbits, primates, cats, dogs, and other animals are locked inside barren cages in laboratories across the country. They languish in pain, ache with loneliness, and long to be free.

Instead, all they can do is sit and wait in fear of the next terrifying and painful procedure that will be performed on them. The complete lack of environmental enrichment and the stress of their living situation cause some animals to develop neurotic types of behavior such as incessantly spinning in circles, rocking back and forth, pulling out their own fur, and even biting themselves. After enduring a life of pain, loneliness, and terror, almost all of them will be killed.

Read the truth about the hideously cruel experiments inflicted on helpless animals and why they are unnecessary.

My own opinion is simple, there is no excuse ever and no reason that can ever justify such cruelty because animals have as much right to their lives as we do , and moreover to live their lives without the negative interference of humans, if is after all their world also .

This link has a wealth of quotations regarding the ethics of animal experiments such as the following, which in my opinion is one of the main reasons that still today animals suffer the agonies of experimentation.

“Results from animal tests are not transferable between species, and therefore cannot guarantee product safety for humans…

In reality these tests do not provide protection for consumers from unsafe products, but rather they are used to protect corporations from legal liability.”

In the modern age there are few tasks now that need the labour of an animal, yet still animals are used in warfare, the enforcement of law, to provide transport, carry goods and so on. Such labour may cause exhaustion, often physical pain, for example if animals are used to carry heavy loads, which is still the case in many parts of the world today. Animals may often be made to comply by the use of whips and other violent forms of coercion. Animals used by law enforcement or the military are exposed to danger and death, remember unlike policemen or women or a soldier the animal has no choice. Not only is this physically exhausting and stressful but at the end of the animal’s useful life he or she is more than likely to be killed if they have not already died of exhaustion.

For detailed information concerning the many uses and abuses of animals used for labour the following article is recommend

You can also read here in this blog about the plight of animals used in warfare:

How War Affects Animals

During WW1 eight million working horses lost their lives, along with countless donkeys and mules. Also one million dogs and pigeons and other birds whose numbers are not known. During this war 16 million innocent animals with no say in or understanding of the matter were forced into war. During the the battle of Verdun in 1916 7,000 horses died in one day alone.

Animals used as Pets may well come under the category of animals used as entertainment but it a bit more complex and less clear cut than that as often these animals provide companionship. Regarding the word pet I prefer the term companion animal, but for ease of writing I will use the word pet which is often an endearment also used to imply fondness of our fellow humans, so for some of us it does not have the same negative connotations.

In a perfect world no animal should be kept as a pet, and I wish this situation did not exist, but this is by no means an ideal world and the domestication of dogs and cats and other animals has progressed beyond the point of turning back. The opposition by many animal rights advocates including myself towards keeping a companion animal should not be considered as a call to release domesticated animals. Domesticated animals such as dogs, cats, rabbits and so on are now dependent on us for their survival, it would not be in the best interests of these animals to release them into the wild or let them lose in our streets where in both cases they would starve to death or come to other harm.

Moreover no advocate of animal rights wishes to remove companion animals from their homes. However we have a moral duty to take responsible care of the animals that we take into our homes and you will find that many animal rights activists and supporters have companion animals or take into their homes rescued animals in need of care. The stance by many animal rights activists is that companion animals who are already here should live long, healthy lives, in as natural a way as is possible, cared for with love and respect by the humans who take them into their homes as their guardians rather than their owners. I would personally like to see the phasing out of confined animals as pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, rats, fish, reptiles and end deliberate breeding of such creatures as companion animals. These creatures still exist in the wild where they should remain to live the lives that nature intends.

Having a pet or pets is a difficult subject and there are many conflicting opinions. I had three pet rabbits whom a miss very much. However all three came from rescue situations and needed homes. Whatever you decide regarding caring for a pet please adopt one from an animal rescue, if you live in the UK you can also go to the RSPCA who have many unwanted animals for adoption.

Please do not buy from a pet store and most certainly not backstreet breeders as this perpetuates the trade in and breeding of animals.

Please do not adopt an animal you cannot adequately care for or can afford, keep in mind vets fees can be considerable but a vital part of an animal’s well being and here in the UK a legal requirement. More advice is available in the above link.

There are just so many ways that animals are used by humans, some less of a problem than others but I firmly believe that in general animals are better off in their own environments to live their own lives as nature intended and are most certainly not here to feed you, clothe you, entertain you or keep you company, unless they so desire, or for use as labour. Life is as important to an animal as our lives are to us , it is their world to and each and every creature has a right to be here regardless of how useful or otherwise they are to humans.

To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being. I should be unwilling to take the life of a lamb for the sake of the human body.Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi.

BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) have uncovered cruel experiments taking place at Cambridge University using sheep imported from New Zealand – yes of course all experiments are cruel, animals are not here to experiment upon or use in any other way for man’s convenience. Such is an anachronism of past thinking, not worthy to be of consideration in a modern world and not worthy of a just society.

Please watch the video.

Warning! Disturbing footage. The film becomes increasing more distressing as it progresses.

The discovery came as a result of an undercover investigation by BUAV that has revealed the inhumane use of sheep for research into neurological disorders, including Batten’s disease a rare genetic disorder, and Huntington’s disease.

It is important to note that sheep’s brains are not the same as ours and though they sufferer similar conditions the disease does not manifest the same and mimics only some of the abnormalities which present in humans. In addition the main genetic mutation responsible for Battens in humans is not found in sheep. Consequently the experiments are unreliable.

During the course of the experiment the unfortunate animals suffered intensely including, having a brain implant – one poor creature suffered additionally as an impatient member of staff rammed her into the crush cage breaking her leg.

The sheep have a condition that mimics only some of the abnormalities seen in people with Batten’s disease. The animals suffered greatly, in particular experiencing eyesight loss and disorientation. As their condition worsened they struggled to walk in a straight line and would bang their heads into stationary objects. They experienced weight loss and strange head movements. One sheep called Janet suffered severe weight loss and became virtually blind. She was eventually killed because of her suffering but was inexplicably left for several days in a pitiful state, even though it was acknowledged she would have to be killed. Some sheep had invasive implants inserted into their brains. The implant caused a large head wound, which if the sheep knocked their heads could worsen. Packs connected to the implant recorded brain activity for 24 hours. The sheep were kept in this facility undergoing behavioural tests and monitored as their condition deteriorated until they died or were killed.

It is important to be polite even though like me you may be angry. The brutality and callous indifference with which people harm animals, such as those who conduct experiments upon helpless creatures, never ceases to disturb and shock me. I cannot understand the mentality, the lack of humanity and compassion for a sentient being, a creature who, like the person who conducts the experiment, suffers pain, experiences fear and wishes to live a life free from such. Experiments on any sentient being are unethical in the extreme and make no mistake sheep are sentient creatures.

Did you know sheep are very independent, get jealous of each other, love cuddles and will come running when you call their name. Most incredibly sheep recognise and remember people and just like us they carry emotional baggage and grieve for their loved ones. They enjoy sitting in the sun and know how to self medicate when ill, selecting the right plants to eat, and they, like most animals, know when you are up to something:

If you think you can outsmart a sheep, think again. If you’re up to no good, then they’ll be on to you in no time. Whether you want to trim their hooves or administer medication, they’ll know about it even before you do!

Sheep are sentient intelligent creatures: Janet Taylor founder of Farm Animal Sanctuary tells this delightful story in answer to the question – are they stupid:

“Are they stupid… ? Janet laughs: “You must be joking. There’s the gang of three and working together they can open any gate on this farm. They stick their tongues through the holes in latch gates; if a bolt is stiff, one will lean against the gate to ease the pressure while another slides the bolt back with his mouth and the third kicks it open.” Adopt a Farm Animal org This amusing account indicates quite clearly that sheep are not only intelligent, but intelligent with a good deal of ingenuity, they have an obvious ability to solve problems and work things out and to also work in groups indicating communication between them. Even though we may not in any way be aware of such communication it obviously takes place as the above clearly demonstrates. The sheep here have clearly worked out between themselves how to open the gate.

The world appears to be a very uncaring place, where callousness, indifference, cruelty, exploitation and all manner of abuse is rife. With the event of the Internet the atrocities towards human and non-human animals alike are laid bare. The facts can be mind blowing, shattering , so overwhelming at times that one can lose faith that there is goodness in the world. Please watch the video further on, which shows you what amazing creature’s sheep are and that there are people who treat them with the respect and the love they deserve, as indeed do all animals.

There are many delightful antidotes about sheep concerning sentience and intelligence, however the main thing to consider is their potential to suffer.The question is not, “Can they reason?” nor, “Can they talk?” but rather, “Can they suffer?”
Jeremy Bentham.

Time to show some compassion, the cold-blooded indifference to the suffering of animals in the form of animal experiments needs to end, experiments should be banned once and for all. No animal whether a sheep, a primate, a rabbit or a rat – or a human being for that matter – should ever be experimented upon for any reason whether it is the more fickle waste of a precious life for the sake of vanity as in the testing of cosmetics or the use of animals in the fight against disease.

If you use cosmetics or medication you should do so at your own risk. Many medicines have been licensed for use as a result of animal experiments only to find a couple of decades later that there is a health hazard. Never forget the disastrous tragedy of thalidomide; how many animals suffered to test a drug that in the end resulted in deformities of babies growing in the womb?

We have to ask what right have we to experiment on other animals, are their lives less significant? Do humans do this because we simply can as the dominant species? Though I rather think it is a small minority who do so we are complicit if we continue to allow it and never speak out. Do we allow such atrocities to take place on defenceless creatures because animals are, according to our perspective, less intelligent, less aware and therefore of less value. What if there were no animals, would we experiment on one another, upon those lives we deem less worthy? Would scientists experiment on sick people for instance as is the case with the sheep or the elderly perhaps, the less intelligent, the poor or simply any category of person other than the dominant group. I am sure scientists would come up with all manner of rationale to justify cruel experiments.

Someone commenting on You tube pointed out the sheep were already ill as though this justifies these experiments. In most societies it is thought cruel to allow an animal to suffer if he or she is pain and is facing death. Therefore allowing these animals to suffer the misery of the disease was cruel and inhumane, as was subjecting them to added torment such as the brain probe and the careless treatment of the sheep whose leg was broken, it is shameful, unforgivable and grossly immoral.

Thankfully there are many people who care about animals, dedicating their lives to their care and well-being. I would like to share with you the following article and video which I found so uplifting.